NO one will be left behind on account of gender, age, social, economic or health status in Zambia’s quest to develop, President Lungu has assured a United Nations global leaders’ meeting on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, Commitment to Action.

He said in line with the international and regional commitments related to gender and development, Zambia’s vision was to achieve full participation of men, women, boys and girls in decisionmaking processes for sustainable development.

President Lungu said this would be done through gender equity and equality so that no one was left behind in development.

“While we have not had equitable numbers of women attaining elective legislative positions, my Government has tried to compensate by having more women in strategic and top management positions. To this end, I am proud to have Zambia’s first female Vice President Inonge Wina.

The head of the Judiciary, Chief Justice Irene Mambilima is also female, the Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani, The Anti-Corruption Commission Director General Rose win Wandi, the Drug Enforcement Commission Directors General Alita Mbawe and Auditor General Anna Chifungula are all women,” President Lungu said.

President Lungu said his Government was committed to addressing the persistent Gender inequities and ensure the empowerment of women in Zambia’s pursuit of national development.

He said although it had been 20 years after the Beijing Declaration and the platform of Action and 15 years after the Millennium Development, the 2030 agenda for sustainable development gave more impetus and confidence for impacting a significantly enhanced imprint on gender equality and women empowerment.

He said Zambia would continue to fight vices that hinder women’s progress with various policies and programmes.

“Women and girls have been victims of gender-based violence, human trafficking and forced, early and child marriages.

Zambia continues to fight this scourge with various policies and programmes such as the ‘He-for-She’ and the school re-entry policy. In other interventions, women economic empowerment is one area that requires investment.

This must be in consent with the facilitation of access to the control of resources such as land and credit for small to medium businesses and capacity building in entrepreneurship,” President Lungu said.